Local MP, Mike Penning, took Conservative Shadow Minister for Energy, Science and Technology Charles Hendry MP on a guided tour of the area surrounding the Buncefield Oil Depot on Friday. Mr Hendry was shocked to discover that fifteen months after the explosion at Buncefield there are still families living in hotels or temporary accommodation. Mike Penning told the Shadow Minister, that there are still many unanswered questions relating to Buncefield and on the wider issue of government handling of national disasters. Firstly, the Prime Minister should appoint a Minister who takes overall responsibility in times of national disaster. Whenever a disaster on this scale occurs, the aftermath and clear-up crosses a multitude of Government departments and agencies. A specially appointed Minister in charge of the disaster would be able to act as a focal point for the local people and businesses affected. “Being shunted from department to department adds insult to injury when local people are trying to rebuild their lives after a disaster such as this. To be fair John Prescott came to Buncefield almost immediately and promised that he would take overall responsibility of the aftermath – however politics soon took over and it was taken out of his hands. Responsibility is now buried deep within the Department for Work and Pensions. The system of a single minister taking responsibility works well in many other western countries we should adopt that system here.” “There is also a strong case for a National Emergency Fund. At the moment local authorities are expected to pay the bills without knowing whether they will get any money back from national government later. If a disaster was declared a “National Emergency” we could have a National Emergency Fund that kicks in to pick up the bills. Mike also told Mr Hendry that there was a lot of local concern about the Health and Safety Executive Investigation. “I would like to see an open public inquiry” he said. “The current HSE inquiry is being held behind closed doors. How can local people trust an investigation being carried out in secret by the HSE when the HSE were integral to the depot’s safety before the fire?” The two MPs also discussed the Corporate Manslaughter Bill currently before Parliament. Government agencies such as the HSE are pressing for immunity. Mike Penning said: “If a government agency is found to be to blame, then they should be just as liable as any private company.” After the visit, Charles Hendry said: “I am really shocked at the lack of progress in taking matters forward which is totally unacceptable. ”This visit has been very useful and Mike has raised some real issues about the work of the Health and Safety Executive and its accountability.
“Everybody welcomes the support given at the time of the explosion but now the government seems to have walked away. The local community cannot be expected to stand alone on this. “It is shocking that fifteen months later some families are still not able to live in their homes.”
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